CLARETS fans cramming into Turf Moor for this evening's crunch match with Arsenal have been told to keep their eyes on one particularly promising talent.

Not World Cup winner Mesut Ozil or Welsh wing wizard Aaron Ramsey, but under-eights sensation, Zaiba Ishaque, from Helmshore, who will take to the hallowed Turf Moor pitch when Burnley's U8 development squad play an exhibition match during half-time.

The football mad youngster was signed by the club six months ago after being spotted out-muscling her male friends in the schoolyard and has been described as a prospect for the future.

Her proud dad, Border Force worker Ashfaq, 41, said: "It will be a proud moment. She just wants to get on the pitch and play.

"I have told her she will be playing in front of thousands of people but she is not fazed."

Zaiba, who also lives with her mum Shanaz, 36, brother Zain, 15, and sister Zahra, 11, impressed a teacher at Haslingden Primary School so much he contacted the club, who snapped her up after catching a glimpse of her skills.

Ashfaq said: "We took her to the sports centre once. We found out at the end she was getting awards at the finish of every session.

"Not many parents liked a girl beating lads every session so we started looking for a club, but we could not find anything.

"Then her PE teacher approached Burnley and said she has a talent."

The central midfielder, who wears the number seven shirt for her team, comes from a family of Man Utd fans, but instead supports their fierce rivals City, who she is hoping to impress today.

Her favourite player is the exceptional Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero.

Ashfaq said: "I know the owner of Man City [Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed] through work and I meet him on a regular basis.

"He has put a lot of money into women's football. He has brought in players from Barcelona and is going around the country picking out the best female players.

"He has the money and he has the facilities."